Julian Panero (left), GW Chinese major, placed 1st in the 11th Annual Chinese Bridge Speech Competition preliminaries, Washington DC site.
The 2012 competition of the DC site was held on April 15, at the University of Maryland Confucius Institute, with 10 competitors from six universities. Competitors were required to perform a formal speech, answer quiz questions on Chinese language and cultural knowledge, and perform a talent related to Chinese culture. Two students from Georgetown University won the second place.
The 1st place winners at regional preliminaries are expected to join others from other countries all over the world to compete in Beijing on the International Chinese Bridge Contest in the summer, which will be aired on Chinese national television!
The GW candidates have been extremely competitive in recent contests. Caleb Dependahl competed in 2010 and won the third place. In 2011, Tim Quinn and Caleb placed the first and second respectively. In this year's contest, Julian's outstanding performance in all three parts of the competition again placed GW at the top. Dr. Julia Xiaoning Chen (right) was the coach of the three GW winners.
Students who are interested in applying for the ACC Spring term and are interested in a Fulbright scholarship or international travel funds, please contact the ACC office at acchina@hamilton.edu immediately. For downloading the application forms for the ACC Spring term and scholarships, please visit www.hamilton.edu/china.
The Fulbright scholarship requires applicants to be a US citizen, must sign an agreement with ACC, and carry out a community service during the program.
Important dates for the ACC Spring Term Application: · Fulbright Scholarships: $2000-$6000: Application deadline: 10/15/2011 · International travel aid: $600-$1400: Application deadline: 10/15/2011 · ACC Spring term application deadline: October 15th, 2011
We are happy to announce that following GW's sweep of the Chinese Bridge Competition (汉语桥演讲比赛) last spring (for the preliminary round at the Washington site), the winners, Tim Quinn and Caleb Dependahl, had their speeches published recently in 中国语言生活,an online magazine by The Commercial Press (商务印书馆)! The Commercial Press was founded in 1897 and continues to be one of the top, most well-respected publishers in all of China. It is quite an achievement for anyone to be published by The Commercial Press, and we are more than proud of Tim and Caleb! Congratulations! Also many thanks to Dr. Xiaoning Chen, our Visiting Fellow from China, who has contributed to the success of the two winners and initially recommended the speeches to the Chinese publisher.
Follow the link below to view the magzine and our winners'speeches:
GW is going to hold the first Jiangsu Cup Chinese Speech Contest in fall 2011! This is a collaborative event co-sponsored by Jiangsu International Culture Exchange Center and Nanjing University, China. Students will have the opportunity to win a sizable scholarship to study in China (M.A. degree or short term) or a free 8-day cultural tour of Jiangsu, China in summer 2012!
Interested GW students (undergrads) should get a Chinese teacher's recommendation first. Then they can enter the preliminary competition at the following site. Candidates will be asked to write an essay online (three paragraphs) and record a self-introduction (2-3minutes). The online preliminary competition will be open 9/22-9/30 at the following site:
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program announces internship opportunities for Fall 2011. The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 30, 2011.
Selected interns will be provided with an office space equipped with a computer, phone, access to Smithsonian collections, libraries, and other resources, as well as advice and research guidance from the APA Program and other Smithsonian staff. Smithsonian interns have the opportunity to develop both research and professional skills and to participate in numerous intern activities and events at the Smithsonian.
Applicants will be chosen based on their scholarly qualifications, experience working with APA communities, and the quality of the research project proposed and its suitability to the APA Program's missions and goals. Eligible applicants must be a current college student, recent college graduate (within one calendar year), and/or have been accepted to enter an advanced degree program. Most interns are at the senior or junior undergraduate level, though strongly qualified sophomores and freshmen will be considered. Graduate students are eligible to apply.
To apply, register on the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System (SOLAA) through its website's left navigation, follow the instructions there, and choose the APA Program's internship option. Please note that accepted applicants will need to submit background check forms one month before their start date. Accepted applicants are responsible for arranging their own housing during their appointment.
Most internships at the Smithsonian are unpaid, but interns may receive academic credit through their universities. Students are encouraged to apply for independent grants or scholarships through their schools or outside sources to financially support them during their internship appointment. Funding is available on a competitive basis through the Minority Awards Program from the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Fellowships.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Contact Krista Aniel, Internship Coordinator, for help or more information.
Telephone: (202) 633-2691
Office Address: Capital Gallery, Suite 7065 600 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20024 (Google Map)
Sarah Tynen, B.A. International Affairs, 2011 Received a 2011-2012 Fulbright award to China and Critical Language Enhancement Award for the study of Chinese at the Middlebury school in Kunming.
Sarah Tynen is a graduating senior in The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Asian Studies and a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. During her time at GW, Sarah has interned for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, GWU Institute for International Economic Policy, and Hudson Institute. From 2009-2010, she studied abroad in Nanjing, China for a year, where she lived with a host family, studied Chinese, and taught English. Upon her return, she was elected Vice President of the GWU Organization of Asian Studies. After learning about Chinese-Middle Eastern and Chinese-Central Asian affairs, she was inspired to write her senior honors thesis on the role of the international Uyghur movement in the ethno-diplomacy of Chinese-Turkish relations. In March 2011, she attended a conference in Sydney, Australia to present her paper, which will be published by the Elliott School this summer. She will be returning to China in August 2011 on a Fulbright award.
The Grant The Fulbright grant requires a total of 14 months in China: 4 months of language study and 10 months of research. Sarah will first study Chinese for four months at the CV-Starr Middlebury school in Kunming, Yunnan for the Critical Language Enhancement Award of the Fulbright scholarship. Upon completion, she will begin her 10-month Fulbright grant in Nanjing. For her Fulbright research, Sarah plans to examine the impact of urban renewal on the preservation of tradition and cultural identity, To do so, she will conduct a case study in Old Nanjing, home to some of Nanjing's oldest housing structures and poorest residents. This will focus on the influence of urban redevelopment on the preservation of Nanjing cultural identity and tradition. Under the mentorship of Professor Chen Yunqian of Nanjing University, this study will serve as a tool for both Chinese and Westerners in creating urban development policies.
Story Contributed by Tim Quinn Videos by Miaochun Wei
At the beginning of this semester, having just come back from study abroad, I was eager to find avenues to keep up with my Chinese and keep honing my language skills. When Wei Laoshi approached me and asked me if I wanted to compete in the Hanyuqiao competition, I agreed without hesitation. I didn’t even know what Hanyuqiao was at the time, all I knew was that it would give me extra opportunity to practice Chinese outside of my literature class with Professor Liana Chen. When I agreed to participate I didn’t know who I would be working with nor did I know what I would be doing. I got an email from Professor Xiaoning Chen and I still remember our first meeting. We talked and she asked me about what I would like to do for the competition – I hadn’t a clue.
(Photo by Phyllis Zhang)
A few weeks went by and before I knew it I had a piece to practice complete with singing and tongue twisters. Chen Laoshi was strict, but I appreciated every moment of it and I am convinced that she has helped me immensely in maintaining and furthering my Chinese language capabilities. Given her impressive resume and her experience as an emcee, even a native mandarin speaker would be envious of the time I got to spend training with her.
In the weeks before the competition, I never even thought for one moment I had a chance at winning. I had entirely convinced myself that regardless the outcome I had decided to compete solely for the experience. It wasn’t until I got on the stage to give my speech that I fully came to realize just how much a help Chen Laoshi had actually been. Naturally, I was happy when I saw my scores (and I was even happier when I found out I won!) yet the most rewarding part of this experience hasn’t been the outcome, but rather the experience itself.
I am looking forward to going to China to participate in the next stages of this competition. However, what I look forward to more is coming back. Chen Laoshi has agreed to keep practicing with me during her time in Washington DC and it is this for which I am most grateful and excited. Yes, the awards and the recognition have been great. But the best part of participating in this year’s Hanyuqiao competition without a doubt has been the fact that it has given me the opportunity to meet and work with so many of our Chinese department’s wonderful faculty, especially Professor Xiaoning Chen. It was an absolute honor to represent GW and to represent such an excellent staff of dedicated and hardworking people. --Tim
The George Washington University B.A. International Development/Anthropology Class of 2012
Story contributed by Caleb Dependahl Videos by Miaochun Wei
Photo by Jianxin Cui
Participating and placing in the 10th Chinese Bridge Speech Competition was even more enjoyable than last year! I am very happy that I could bring honor to GWU and specifically our Chinese Department once again. One thing that makes our Chinese Department stand out from the rest is our amazing faculty. The amount of support and encouragement I’ve received from every single professor is amazing.
My experience preparing for this year’s competition differed greatly from my experience last year. Due to a heavier workload, I originally had no plans to compete in Chinese Bridge again. However, a few weeks before the competition our Director, Phyllis Zhang, along with several other smiling professors just happened to ask me – repeatedly – if I would be competing in the 汉语桥 coming up. I knew that resistance was futile and decided to jump in and enjoy the ride! Professor Chen Xiaoning was immediately assigned to whip me in shape, and before I knew it I was memorizing speeches and distracting anyone unlucky enough to be down the hall from our practice room!
I give all of the credit to three professors, without whom I would never have competed or done as well as I did. First, I would like to thank Prof. Phyllis Zhang, Director of GW Chinese Program, for urging me to compete these past two years. She has continued to push me to challenge myself and realize my full potential, and for that I am truly grateful. Next, I would like to thank Professor Wei Gengyun again, the visiting fellow from China (2008-10). It was she who helped me prepare for the 汉语桥 last year, and if it weren’t for her I never would have attempted my first “没有快板的快板”. She helped me discover a talent I never knew I had. Finally, I never would have done so well this year without the help of Professor Chen Xiaoning, another visiting fellow from China. Her guidance, patience and encouragement have brought me to the point where I am ready to bring my skills to the next level.
I would also like to thank Professor Wei Miaochun for videotaping our performances, and Professor Dong Hongyuan for driving us to and from the competition.
I sincerely thank you all!
-- Caleb
Caleb Dependahl is a Junior in the Elliott School of International Affairs, double majoring in Asian Studies and Chinese Language and Literature
(Photos by Prof. Jianxin Cui, Confucius Institute, UMD)
Tim Quinn (GW Chinese minor) and Caleb Dependahl (GW Chinese major) placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the 10th Annual Chinese Bridge Speech Competition preliminaries, Washington DC site. The competition of the DC site was held at the University of Maryland Confucius Institute, with 12 competitors from seven universities. Competitors were required to perform a formal speech, answer questions testing Chinese language and cultural knowledge, and perform a talent related to Chinese culture. The 1st and 2nd place winners of each region are sent to Beijing to represent the USA competing on the International Chinese Bridge on Chinese national television! Look forward to seeing their performances after this summer!
Dr. Julia Chen is currently a visiting fellow from China. Once a TV program host in Hubei TV Station, China, Dr. Chen used her pro skills to coach the two GW competitors. (Photo by Phyllis Zhang)
比赛前一天,我问崑天和永凯,要是没得奖,你们会失望吗? 他们说,我们不会在意,我们更在意这个学习的过程。我的心一下子放下了。现在，我常常想起的不是他们获奖的瞬间，而是在这间不大的办公室里，我们字斟句酌、反复锤炼的一个个场景…… On the day before the competition, I asked Tim and Caleb, if you guys don’t win will you be upset? They told me that winning didn’t even matter, what matters was the experience and what they had learned during the preparation process. I immediately was able to relax. Now, when I reflect on this experience, I generally don’t think about that award winning moment. Instead, I think of the time spent in that small office, practicing over and over, carefully weighing every word...... -- Julia Chen
Prof. Miaochun Wei had taught Tim before Tim went to the ACC program in China.
This is our third year that GW students have participated in Chinese Bridge Speech Contest, and we have the best performance this year. I have felt really delighted to see every contestant contribute tremendous time and efforts preparing for it with our teachers. They all exemplify GW spirit, increasing interest in learning Chinese language and culture, and above all, the mutual understanding of Chinese and Americans. I hope that their victory motivates both Tim and Caleb to continue further studies in Chinese, as well as encourages more of our students to pursue excellence in the global community in the future. --Miaochun Wei
Prof. Miaochun Wei (left), Tim Quinn, Prof. Julia Chen (center), Prof. Phyllis Zhang (front, served as judge in this competition). Caleb Dependahl, Prof. Hongyuan Dong (right, served as judge in the previous competition).
Jonathan Chaves, Professor of Chinese of Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, has been invited to visit Shanghai University, China. Prof. Chaves is going to give three lectures. See details below.
主持人：陶飞亚教授
题目：《吴历的绘画与书法》On Wuli’s Painting and Calligraphy in the Context of Chinese Art History
The lecture on Wu Li would be delivered in Chinese, and would introduce his painting and calligraphy, placing him in the context of Chinese art history. It will be argued that there is no Western influence in his painting, despite claims to the contrary by some scholars. His poetry will then be discussed, in the context of the Jesuits using poetry as part of their evangelization. Wu Li's Christian poems will be analyzed in some detail and Chinese texts handed out to the audience.
预告：
4月13日上午10：00 A602B， 《论中国诗歌的韵律及其英译》On Chinese Poem’s rhyme and its English Translation: case study on Zhangji
The lecture would address the question in particular of rhyme and why English translators have avoided it. My recent book on Zhang Ji, Cloud Gate Song, of which Prof. Dong has a copy, is the first to attempt rhymed translations which track the rhyme-schemes of the originals. This lecture will be delivered in English but with some Chinese as well, as needed.
(Opportunity for Chinese majors and non-Chinese majors)
Teach English & Study Mandarin in Shenzhen
Spend a year teaching English and learning Chinese in Shenzhen. This large, well-established, government-sponsored program is now in its 14th year. Shenzhen is a Mandarin-speaking city. It is the only program of its kind.
Preparatory training at Peking University includes the TEFL in China Certificate training and Mandarin classes (4 levels available) in August. Teach English September - June in a Shenzhen public school, and continue your study of Mandarin in our own courses, taught by Shenzhen University faculty.
Salary, housing, and contract bonus
Housing & tours during the training
On-Site Coordinators
Airline tickets reimbursed
Paid 3-week vacation Jan/Feb
Requirements: College degree (by July 2011), native speaker of English with citizenship USA / Canada / UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand
All majors are welcome. Teaching experience is not required. Prior study of Chinese is not required.
For information and an application: www.chinaprogram.org
Each year we send a GW student to China to study Chinese under the Chinese government scholarship. The awardee will be able to study in a Chinese university (normally in the mandarin program) for a year fully paid by the Chinese government except for international travel expenses. Please note the scholarship does not apply to non-Chinese programs such as U.S. sponsored overseas programs.
Application deadline: March 10, 2011.
For more information please contact Prof. Phyllis Zhang.
This is a U.S. government sponsored program administered by Associated College in China (ACC), Hamilton College. The following information is provided by ACC.
All students who are admitted to the program will receive a full scholarship to participate.
To apply, or for more information visit: www.hamilton.edu/china (Application deadline is March 1!)
Who: A small group of highly qualified US students with advanced abilities in Chinese language. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of a study abroad program in China. Admitted students will receive full scholarships (Scholarship includes: international travel, program tuition, and lodging in China).
What: Further improve cultural competency and language proficiency through field experience and advanced language instruction.
Where: Several regions of China with an emphasis on rural areas; language instruction based in Beijing.
When: Summer 2011 (June 17-August 5)
Field Experience:
· Three- week field study in different parts of China
· Engage in comparative study of US and China’s contemporary society and educational systems through hands-on projects
· Focus on education in rural areas
· Deliver presentations at conferences/workshops for Chinese school teachers
· Teach at day camps in rural schools
· Participate in a one-week de-orientation and preparation for outreach activities
Advanced Language Instruction:
· Three- week intensive Chinese language courses and culture lectures in Beijing
· Focus on advanced language and culture studies
· Native speaking faculty with extensive experience teaching foreign students
· Earn credits from Hamilton College
All students who are admitted to the program will receive a full scholarship to participate.
To apply, or for more information visit: www.hamilton.edu/china
(The following information is from China Education Initiative or CEI, a non-profit organization)
Interested in international relations? An opportunity to experience living in China? Do you have outstanding leadership skills and wonder how you can further contribute to the cross-cultural communication between China and the US?
China Education Initiative (CEI) is a government recognized non-profit organization that enlists the most promising future leaders in the effort to address educational inequality in China. Without adequate resources, less than 5% of students from rural areas of China continue to higher education beyond middle school. CEI recruits, trains, and supports outstanding graduates from top-tier universities in China and the United States to work side-by-side as full-time teachers in China’s most under-resourced schools. Beyond their two-year teaching commitments, China Education Initiative alumni are provided with opportunities and support to further their professional careers in both China and the U.S. As the first and only organization to partner recent college graduates from China and the United States in a long-term service initiative, CEI provides a unique experience to develop skills as future leaders who want to strengthen the Sino-US relations and build bilateral solutions to global problems.
To learn more about CEI and to apply to our Fellowship program, please visit our website at www.chinaeducationinitiative.org or contact our campus ambassador at GWU: GW@chinaeducationinitiative.org.
Our Spring round 1 deadline is February 10th and Round 2 final deadline is March 10th!
"Amanda James is one of the very finest students I have taught, from the time I started in the Fall of 1970 to the present day. She is intelligent, disciplined, trustworthy. Her attitude towards her studies is one of seriousness and commitment to success.” “She was able to maintain the highest level of achievement in the extremely taxing major of Chinese Language and Literature, while pursuing with equal success training in the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, winning two awards, while simulataneously being invited to join Phi Beta Kappa, the supreme academic honor society." --Jonathan Chaves
As a graduate of the Columbian College at GW with a major in Chinese, I am so glad to have the opportunity to return to Beijing, where I studied abroad last year. I will be a 2010-2011 Princeton-in-Asia fellow working for a non-profit organization called the JUMP! Foundation. I recently attended orientation at Princeton University where I met over 100 other fellows who will be teaching at schools and universities or working in the fields of journalism, international development and business in seventeen Asian countries. In my fellowship next year, I look forward to combining my studies of Chinese language and culture and the skills I gained interning at two non-profits in DC. If you would like to read more about Princeton-in-Asia, you can visit http://piaweb.princeton.edu/, and if you would like to read my blog that I will be keeping in Beijing, you can find it at http://lizheller.blogspot.com/. I'd like to thank Professor Jonathan Chaves, my academic advisor and professor in the Chinese department, for making my experience at GW so great!
Mr. Caleb Dependahl, a GW student double majoring in Asian Studies and Chinese language and literature, participated in the 9th Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition and won the third place prize and special performance award. He impressed audience with his sense of humor as well as his exceptional speaking skills. Here is the speech part of his competition (videotaped by Phyllis Zhang).
At the reception after the contest in the Education Office of Chinese Embassy in Washington DC, Caleb was asked to give his talent show performance again. His Chinese fluency and humor impressed everyone. (Left, Xu Lin,Director General of Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, China. Photo by Gengyun Wei, a Hanban visiting teaching fellow, who coached Caleb for this competition.)
with contributions from Caleb Dependahl and Amanda James
Photos by Phyllis Zhang and Gengyun Wei
The 9th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition at the Washington site was held on April 16 at the University of Maryland. Twenty American students from eight universities competed in this event. Two GWU students, Caleb Dependahl (戴永凯）and Amanda James (蒋爱梦）participated in the competition. Caleb won the Third Place Prize and also a Special Performance Award (the only one among the six winners to win this special performance award). Amanda received Honorable Mention. Their excellent performance impressed all the participants and audience. The First Place Prize winner was David Hunsaker from Brigham Young University.
Amanda James, Chinese Language & Literature Major at GWU.
"Participating in the 2010 Chinese Bridge Competition was a fantastic experience. I spent several weeks preparing for the presentation, studying questions about Chinese language and culture, and getting ready for the talent portion of the contest, but even in putting in all that time I had a blast! Wei Laoshi put in a huge amount of time and effort to help me prepare, and getting together with her to study and go over things was so much fun and really rewarding. Not only was preparing fun, but it also expanded my knowledge of Chinese culture and helped me improve my Chinese language skills. The competition itself was great as well. There were twenty different students there from all over the country and all with different backgrounds. It was fun getting the chance to talk with them and hear about their experiences with Chinese and see their presentations. Some had lived in China for several years, and others had only just started studying in college a few years ago, so there were people there at varying levels, but we could all understand each other and our learning experiences and enjoy each others presentations and talents. I truly had a great time, learned a lot, and met some fantastic people!" --Amanda
Caleb Dependahl, Asian Studies; Chinese Lang. & Lit. Double Major at GWU
"大家好！ I can honestly say it was an honor to represent The George Washington University at the 9th annual Chinese Bridge competition. I have felt completely welcome and at home in the Chinese Department since my first week at GW. As I started preparing for the competition, I felt that I was not only participating to improve my Chinese, but that it was also a small opportunity for me to thank everyone in the Chinese Language Department.
I started preparing for the 汉语桥 competition at least two months before the event. From day one I practiced under the guidance of Wei Laoshi (魏耕耘老师). I know for a fact that if it weren't for her, I never would have attempted the performance I later gave and succeeded in. I don't know how many hours I spent preparing alone and with Professor Wei, but it all paid off in the end!
I wasn't sure what to expect from my fellow competitors at the Chinese Bridge competition. I had only heard that the year before there was a very clear line between the students with advanced Chinese and beginner level Chinese. I was pleasantly surprised to find several other students with a higher level of Chinese like me! The competition was very competitive and very close. In the end I finished amongst the top competitors, but more importantly, I have become close friends with some of the other students I met. Furthermore, my performance at the Chinese Bridge competition has led to several other opportunities that I never even expected!
I strongly encourage any student with interest to participate in the next Chinese Bridge competition. Through it, I discovered talents that I never knew I possessed, and realized that my potential in Chinese is far greater than I was aware of. It's difficult to truly communicate to American students the value of knowing the Chinese language. If I've learned anything thus far, it is that you never know where Chinese may take you!" -- Caleb
Gengyun Wei, Coordinator of the GW Competition Team
Ms. Gengyun Wei or Wei laoshi [center], was the coordinator of the GW competition team. A star teacher at her home school (Beijing Language and Culture University), Wei laoshi has been teaching at GWU as a Visiting Teaching Fellow for two academic years (2008-09, 2009-10). She also coordinated the first GW team for this international event in Spring 2009, and won a Third Place Price. This year, Wei laoshi spent a lot of time with the two GW competitors, helping them improve their presentations and language performance. She enjoyed working with these two excellent students. "My time was well spent and worthwhile! Nothing could make me happier than when I saw how they were appreciated by so many people at the Competition. That gave me the greatest joy for being a teacher!"
Other GW faculty members also attended the competition to cheer for the competitors. Ms. Jun Zhang (far left) was Caleb's teacher last fall. Ms. Gengyun Wei (second from left) was Caleb's tutor for this competition. Ms. Miaochun Wei (center) helped videotape part of the event, and Prof. Hongyuan Dong served as judge of this event with four other Professors from other universities. Prof. Phyllis Zhang, Director of the GW Chinese language program, also attended the morning session of the competition.
Project IMUSE (Initiating Mutual Understanding through Student Exchange) is a nonprofit organization offering undergraduate and graduate students around the United States with a unique fellowship opportunity in China. Each fellow will spend 10 days with other fellows from around the US and China, exploring US-China relations by attending events, learning from each other, and exploring their role in the future of their countries.
Fellowship delegates will be provided will full living accommodations in Beijing for two weeks as they participate in a series of group discussions, cultural activities, speaker events, and guided tours that will promote both their understanding of China and of their Chinese peers. All events will be conducted in English and no Knowledge of Chinese is necessary. Please refer to the website for more information:
